Air Leaks
Even small cracks and openings in walls will cost you energy and money.

Weather-strip or caulk drafty windows and door frames, including those in your basement or attic. Weather stripping kits and caulk is available at your local home store.

Caulk around openings where any of the following enter or exit your home: radiator pipes, water spigots, electrical and cable outlets, air conditioner hoses, dryer vents, and fuel and water pipes.

Stop under-door drafts by attaching a sweep to the bottom of doors, or simply block these openings with a “draft dodger” (a long cloth tube filled with sand) or rolled-up towel.

If you have a fireplace, make sure it is fitted with tight-sealing glass doors, and keep the doors and the flue damper closed whenever you’re not using the fireplace. If you never use your fireplace, consider plugging the chimney and sealing the doors with caulk. A fireplace is not an energy efficient way to heat your home. You actually introduce more cold air into your home than heat from the fire.